Warring Hamas and Fatah factions have agreed to a truce in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian government spokesman said Monday night, after a day of clashes in which four people were killed and the cabinet minister responsible for internal security resigned.

Hours later, Palestinian witnesses reported unidentified gunmen had abducted a lecturer from the Islamic University, which is largely known to support Hamas. There was no immediate comment from the Palestinian factions.

Officials said following talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, who has since taken over the duties of Palestinian Interior Minister Hani Kawasmeh, leaders from both sides agreed all gunmen aside from the Palestinian police would be removed from Gaza streets.

	Advertisement

"Fatah and Hamas leaders have promised that both sides will end all forms of tensions, end armed displays, remove gunmen and checkpoints from the streets and swap hostages," Palestinian cabinet spokesman Ghazi Hamad said.

The fighting continued for a second day after erupting Sunday in clashes that left five people dead. The fighting, sparked by tensions over who controls the Palestinian security forces, is the first since the two rival organizations agreed to form a unity government in February.

The Monday violence left at least four people dead, including three members of Fatah and a truck driver hit by a stray bullet. With Gaza City's streets largely deserted, rival forces took up positions on rooftops and gunmen in black ski masks fanned out across the area, setting up checkpoints and stopping cars.

The fresh outbreak of fighting led Kawasmeh to submit his resignation for the second time since the formation of the government. The last time he tried to quit, he later rescinded the resignation at Haniyeh's request.

"Ismail Haniyeh has accepted the resignation of the minister of the interior and this issue will be discussed today in the cabinet meeting," said Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti.

At a news conference, Kawasmeh angrily accused both Haniyeh and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah of failing to support him.

Kawasmeh recently proposed a security plan to restore law and order. But the plan - which called for reforms and coordination among the numerous Palestinian security forces - never got off the ground.

"From the beginning, I faced obstacles that robbed the ministry of its powers and made my position empty without authority," he said. "I told all the concerned parties, including the president and the prime minister, that I must have full authority to be able to carry out my full duties."

Officials said Haniyeh would take control of the Interior Ministry until a replacement for Kawasmeh is found.

The question of who would fill the crucial and sensitive role of interior minister had held up unity government negotiations between Hamas and Fatah for several months.

Dozens of Hamas gunmen exchanged fire with Fatah security officers and bodyguards of Maher Meqdad, a Fatah spokesman, in Gaza City.

Ala Shabir, one of Meqdad's bodyguards, was killed in the incident and 10 the other people were wounded.

Later Monday morning, Palestinian sources announced that a second Fatah man, Mohammed Al-Absi, had been killed in fighting with Hamas. Al-Absi was a member of Fatah's special forces and also served as a bodyguard for Meqdad.

Hamas militants also set fire to Meqdad's office. Hamas' armed wing said its men had rushed to the scene after Fatah gunmen opened fire from rooftops at homes belonging to its members.

Hospital officials said Monday that a civilian died of wounds sustained when he was shot Sunday , bringing to five the number of Palestinians killed in clashes on Sunday.

Gaza City resident Jamal Abu Shabaan, 21, said he had made up his mind after the last round to emigrate to Saudi Arabia and expected to leave in coming days.

"Now they [the gunmen] are starting from where they left off," said Abu Shabaan, who witnessed a shootout outside his furniture store on Sunday. "If they get to each others' throats, they won't let go this time."

Universities were closed because of the violence, and many worried parents kept their children home from school.

"It's a curfew out there, masked men everywhere and kidnappings," said Shereen Abu Hassira, 36, who kept her five school-age children off the streets Monday.

Abu Hassira said her brother was snatched by Hamas gunmen overnight because he had been riding in a car with a Fatah-allied policeman. "No one cares for anyone anymore," she said. "If they thought of our children, they wouldn't have done this."

Fatah sources said the recent fighting had raised tensions with Hamas to the point that the unity government could collapse within days.

The Egyptian security delegation stationed in Gaza had brought the two sides together Sunday night and achieved an agreement to withdraw their forces and exchange captives, spokesmen from Hamas and Fatah said early Monday.

Under the deal, both sides would pull gunmen off the streets and swap 14 hostages from Hamas being held by Fatah for at least six from Fatah held by Hamas, officials on both sides aid.

"In order to maintain national unity and preserve Palestinian blood, Hamas and Fatah leaders met and agreed to end the fighting and remove the checkpoints," Ayman Taha, a Hamas official, said.

Abdel-Hakim Awad of Fatah said: "We assure our people that we will block all attempts to drag us into internal acts of sedition."